Choosing a Realtor

Choosing the right Realtor is very important in the home buying and selling process. You should fully understand what it means for a Realtor to represent you before looking for one. Seller's agents work with clients that want to sell their homes or land, whereas buyer's agents focus on clients looking to purchase property. Once you enter into a legally binding agreement with a buyer's agent or a seller's agent, they hold a legal obligation to work the interests of the buyer or seller, respectively.

Tips for Finding a Good Realtor

Sellers should stick with seller's agents, and likewise buyers should go with buyer's agents, since you want representation that's legally bound to you and your needs, not to the people you're buying from or selling to.

You want a Realtor you trust and can depend on, like the Gardner Team that specializes in Sherwood real estate and are the most successful realtors in the Sherwood area. Of course, we might be a little biased, so we'll let our reputation for selling the most Sherwood homes year after year do the talking for us. We live in Sherwood ourselves, and chose the town because of the great qualities it has to offer.

When looking for Realtors, a great place to start is by asking people you know and getting referrals for several Realtors. Check them out before making a decision and ask them questions beforehand. For sellers, ask how they will help market and sell your home, how many homes they typically sell per year, and the ratio of their listing price to the final sales price.

Definition of a REALTOR®

A REALTOR®is a real estate agent that belongs to the National Association of Realtors. The National Association is the biggest professional trade association in the world. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®, and agents must join the association before they can be addressed as such. Working with a Realtor offers an additional layer of security, since your agent conducts business under a higher set of ethic and professional standards. REALTORS® adhere to a stringent code of Ethics that goes well beyond state laws for buying and selling real estate. Most REALTORS® belong to a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) which gives them more comprehensive access to available homes.

As with all real estate agents, REALTORS© have to be licensed by their state. The Gardner Team is licensed by the State of Oregon.

Realtor Checklist

While choosing a Realtor is a crucial part of the process of buying or selling your land or home, it doesn't have to be a hard task.

Here are a few qualities to look for when choosing a Realtor:

• The real estate agent is in fact a REALTOR® with an active real estate license in good standing
• The REALTOR® belongs to a Multiple Listing Service
• The REALTOR® holds designations
• He or she is a buyer's or seller's agent
• Whether the REALTOR® has made a career out of real estate
• Whether the REALTOR® can offer strong game plan of how they intend to help you achieve your real estate goals
• An added plus - if they live in the area where you want to live

Choosing a Realtor will determine the price you pay or sell your property for, as well as how successful you are and how stressful (or stress-free!) the process will be. So take the time to choose a Realtor wisely.

For example, don't go with a friend or family member without verifying they have the proper credentials and experience first. Don't choose an agent that isn't committed to building a strong marketing plan for your home or buying strategy for you. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and your home will get the most attention when the listing is new.

At The Gardner Team, we are licensed Realtors who are committed to your success and will make the process of buying and selling Sherwood property as easy as possible.